UNIT 1: COLONIZATION, THE 13 COLONIES, AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT
What impact did Christopher Columbus have on the New World? He opened a passageway for other countries to settle on this new land, gain resources, and trade with one another.
He opened up the New World to English colonization and resources.
What European powers colonized North America, and what were the specific reasons they colonized? English, French, and Dutch powers colonized North America for several reasons. The English wanted more land, and established the Columbian Exchange, which gave them materials from the New World and gave the colonies the resources they needed to establish civilization. The French were more interested in fur trading and creating connections with the indigenous people. The Dutch wanted financial growth for their country more than land, so they gathered resources and traded.
How did Europeans impact Native Americans in the New World? Some Europeans like the English drove the indigenous people off of their land to establish colonies, while others like the French wanted to trade and make connections. They even married some indigenous people. They also brought over several diseases that the Native Americans weren’t exposed to, wiping out a large percent of their population.
What were the three regions of the North American English colonies, and what are the distinct features of each region (geography, economy, government, society)? The three regions were the New England colonies, the Middle colonies, and the Southern colonies. The New England colonies were cold with lots of forest, making farming difficult. Instead, their economy relied on whaling and lumber, along with fishing. The Middle colonies were known as the “breadbasket,” as they grew a lot of wheat and grains. They had large farms that were harvested by enslaved people. The Southern colonies grew cash crops such as tobacco and indigo. The House of Burgesses acted as their legislative house in the south.
What are the reasons people came to colonial America? For trade, land, and resources; Gold, god, and glory
What was the Enlightenment? What are the characteristics of the Enlightenment? The Enlightenment was a time period in which philosophers showed people to think about rules and laws through science and reasoning rather than religious beliefs. This caused people to question what the church had been telling them.
How did the Religious Reformation influence the Enlightenment? It caused people in the colonies to question if what the church had told them was true, and if they were being lied to. They believed the Church was corrupted and abusing their power. This influenced Enlightenment thinkers to embrace religious freedom, individualism, and question traditional beliefs.
How did the Scientific Revolution influence the Enlightenment? Francis Bacon developed the Scientific Method - a process for collecting and analyzing data using experiments and reason. This era laid the foundation for chemistry, biology, physics, and astronomy. It led to an age where logic was important.
Know each of the following enlightened thinkers and philosophy and their beliefs:
Thomas Hobbes- believed aristocrats should rule, monarchy
John Locke- life, liberty, and property
Voltaire- freedom of speech
Montesquieu- separation of powers
Rousseau- social contract
Beccaria- right to a fair trial
How did the Enlightenment thinkers influence the American Revolution and ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution?The Enlightenment reshaped the ways people understood issues such as liberty, equality, and individual rights. Enlightenment ideas inspired revolutions - it was Enlightenment ideas and values that justified the Declaration of Independence! Enlightenment principles became enshrined in the U.S. Constitution (natural rights, separation of powers, checks & balances)
TODAY, those ideas serve as the cornerstone of the world’s strongest democracies
UNIT 2: TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
What were the causes and effects of the French and Indian War? Causes were due to the French and Indians wanting the Ohio River Valley land because they were there before the English.
How did the French and Indian War begin the conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain? After the war, Britain was in debt. This caused them to have to tax the colonies, making the colonies not like the British.
Explain the Proclamation of 1763 and its impact on the relationship between Great Britain and the colonists. The Proclamation of 1763 was created to prevent colonists from settling on new land acquired by Great Britain. Colonists were outraged, demanding that they could settle on this land. This worsened the relationship between the colonists and the British government.
What events led to the American Revolution (these are your timeline events!) Tip: Do not copy and paste the timeline descriptions from your study guide, instead, briefly describe them in new words.
Proclamation of 1763 - an invisible line running through the Appalachian Mountains that prevented colonies settling beyond this line.
Stamp Act - A tax on papered goods. The colonists were very against this act and protested until Parliament repealed it.
Quartering act - forced colonists to house soldiers and provide them with necessities to live. This cost them a lot of money and they believed the soldiers just took up space.
Townshend Acts - Passed by Charles Townshend. A tax on all goods imported into the colonies from Britain. Colonists boycotted these goods. Women were extremely important in this boycotting. They made pine needle tea and their own cloth to avoid this tax. The tax was repealed on everything except on tea.
Boston Massacre - Colonists were protesting against the tea act. They were shouting at British soldiers and insulting them. The soldiers thought they heard their commander shout “Fire!” and they shot into the crowd. 5 people were killed, a couple heart. The soldiers were tried by John Adams and only two were found guilty. Samuel Adams called it a masacre to rile up colonists against Britain.
Boston Tea Party - The Sons of LIberty dressed up as indigenous people and threw 90,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor.
Intolerable Acts- 1. They couldn't hold town meetings 2. More soldiers would be sent over 3. The ports would be closed 4. The soldiers from the Boston Massacre were tried in Britain.
First Continental Congress- Patrick Henry “I'm not a Virginian, I’m an American!” Delegates meet in Philadelphia to discuss what to do going forward. They sent a letter of peace to which King George never replied. They started to form militias.
Lexington and Concord - British hear that the colonists have weapons in Concord, and start to head towards it from Boston. Minutemen hear of this, and try to stop the soldiers in Lexington. The British beat them and continue to Concord, where they are beaten by the determined colonists who want independence. As they scramble back to Boston, colonists shout at them and call them names, throwing things at them.
Second Continental Congress- they form the Continental Army, send an Olive Branch Petition to King George, and start writing the DOI.
What officially ended the Revolutionary War? - The Treaty of Paris of 1783 was signed, giving the colonies land in the Northwest territory and freedom.
How did the Americans win the Revolutionary War? With help from France, the Americans managed to prevail against the British in several battles. The Treaty of Paris of 1783 officially ended the war, giving the colonies land in the Northwest territory.
UNIT 3: THE FOUNDING DOCUMENTS
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? To declare American independence to King George III, the people of America, and the world.
What are the 5 parts of the Declaration of Independence? The Preamble, list of rights, list of complaints, reasons for previous actions, and resolution.
What were the Articles of Confederation and their weaknesses? The Articles of Confederation were the first national government of America. It has several weaknesses. They could not impose taxes, they could not draft soldiers, required a supermajority to vote on laws, and had no national court system.
What led to the Constitutional Convention? The need to create a stronger national government than the Articles of Confederation. Delegates from every state met in Philadelphia to create this new document. James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution.
What were the major compromises of the Constitutional Convention (5)? The Great Compromise, the ⅗ Compromise, the Electoral College, the Bill of Rights, and the Compromise of 1793.
What are the six intentions in the Preamble of the Constitution? - form a more perfect Union, ensure domestic tranquility, establish justice, provide for the common defense, secure the Blessings of Liberty, and promote the general welfare.
Briefly describe each article of the Constitution.
Article I. Legislative Branch. - Congress
Article II. Executive Branch. - President and VP
Article III. Judicial Branch. - Supreme Court, interpret the constitution
Article IV. Relationships Between the States. - federalism, must work together
Article V. Amending the Constitution. - difficult process
Article VI. Prior Debts, National Supremacy Clause, and Oaths of Office. - law of the land
Article VII. Ratification. - approving the Constitution
What are the 7 principles of the Constitution? Popular sovereignty, federalism, republicanism, checks and balances, separation of powers, limited government, individual rights
What is the Bill of Rights, and why were they added to the Constitution? The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. They were created to protect the individual rights of citizens, as they were worried they would lose their rights if they were not listed in the Constitution.
How did the Magna Carta and Bill of Rights influence the Constitution? The Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights significantly influenced the US Constitution by establishing key principles like limitations on government power and individual rights, which were directly incorporated into the Constitution.
UNIT 4: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EARLY REPUBLIC
What domestic challenge did George Washington face during his presidency? A domestic challenge George Washingotn faced during his presidency was the Whiskey Rebellion. The Whiskey Rebellion was a protest against the whiskey tax from farmers who made a large source of their income through whiskey growing and selling.
How did he solve this conflict? Why is it significant? As the rebels were no longer protesting peacefully, Washington created a militia of 13,000 people to head towards the rebels, without the intention to use force. The rebels were so overwhelmed by the large number that they fled. This was important because it was the first challenge to Washington's presidency, showing that he handled the situation carefully and had the people of his country in mind.
What is George Washington’s presidential legacy?
What political parties emerged during Washington's presidency, and what were their key beliefs? The Federalists and Democratic-Republicans were the two political parties during Washington's presidency. The Federalists believed in loose constitutional interpretation, a national bank, and that industrialization was the backbone of America's economy. The Democratic- Republicans believed in strict constitutional interpretation, no national bank, and that agriculture was the backbone of America's economy.
What is significant about Washington’s Farewell Address, and what advice does he give?
Washington’s Farewell Address is significant because he gives advice for the country and future presidents. His main pieces of advice were to stay united as states, avoid interference with foreign conflict, and have no political parties. He wanted the country to stay together as one nation.
Key terms
1 | Ohio River Valley | The Ohio River Valley was a valley full of rich natural resources. The Native Americans had been living there, and had established peace with the French. However, they were annoyed because the English were trying to drive them out of the valley. |
2 | French and Indian War | The French and Indian War lasted from 1754-1763. This conflict occurred due to France and Britain wanting control over the Ohio River Valley for access to its various resources. The Native Americans sided with the French during this period, however, Britain still took power and captured Quebec in 1759 and Montreal a year later in 1760. The British won, and the war came to a close with the Treaty of Paris.The war put Britain in a large amount of debt, leading them to later on implant several taxes in the colonies. |
3 | Treaty of Paris (1763) | The Treaty of Paris was a document signed by both signs of the war to finish it off. |
4 | King George III | King George III was a powerful ruler during the American revolution. |
5 | Proclamation of 1763 | The Proclamation of 1763 established a boundary running through the Appalachian Mountains that prevented colonists from settling on new land they had just acquired from the French. It aimed to halt costly conflict between colonists and the Native Americans. Colonists were furious, as they claimed they had the right to settle on this new land. It was established by King George III, and he sent over 10,000 troops to guard the line. The Proclamation was another expensive investment from Great Britain, growing their massive debt. |
6 | Stamp Act | The Stamp Act was one of the first taxes implemented in the colonies to pay off Great Britain's massive debt from the war. The Stamp Act was passed by Parliament in 1765, and it was a tax that required all paper goods to have a stamp, adding an excess fee. Some colonists believed the tax was fair, as they had to pay off the debt somehow. However, others were enraged, boycotting and protesting. Their reaction was effective enough for the act to be repealed in 1766. |
7 | Quartering Act | The Quartering Act was ordered by Parliament, and it forced colonists to provide British troops with housing, bedding, food, and other various items. Colonists were furious, stating they shouldn't have to provide for the soldiers and claiming they barely did anything except take up space. The New York assembly refused to accept this act, increasing tension between them and Parliament. In retaliation, Great Britain didn’t allow their assembly to meet. Ultimately, they accepted the act except for providing beer, cider, and salt. |
8 | Townshend Acts | The Townshend Acts were created in 1767 by Charles Townshend. The Townshend Acts were another tax placed in the colonies on certain goods imported from Britain such as glass, paint, paper, and tea. Women were influential during this period, as they were often the ones purchasing these goods. They boycotted heavily, even resorting to making tea out of pine needles rather than buying it with the extra tax. More than 2,000 British soldiers were sent to the colonies to control protests. The act was repealed four years later in April of 1770. |
9 | Boston Massacre | The Boston Massacre occurred shortly after the Townshend Acts had been repealed in 1770. Colonist protesters stormed the Boston Customs House on March 5, 1770. They threw objects and shouted, “Fire if you dare!” The troops panicked, and fired into the crowd. Five people were killed, and Patriots named it the Boston Massacre. Most of the troops were not found guilty except for two, who were charged for manslaughter. They were represented by John Adams-a proud patriot. |
10 | Sons of Liberty | The Sons of Liberty were a group of very patriotic individuals who often led protests. boycotts, and were responsible for throwing the tea into the Boston harbor during the Boston Tea Party. |
11 | Samuel Adams | |
12 | Tea Act (1773) | The Tea Act was created by Lord North in an effort to save the British East India Company. This large trading company controlled trade between Asia and Great Britain. The trade had been successful in past years, however, the boycott of British tea in the colonies decreased the company's wealth. The Tea Act lowered the cost of British tea, becoming cheaper than smuggled Dutch tea. Colonial merchants became alarmed, wondering what the British government might try to monopoly next. |
13 | Boston Tea Party | The Boston Tea Party was a monumental protest against the Tea Act, occurring in 1773. Patriots came together at the Boston Harbor and prevented tea ships from unloading their cargo. Later on, the Sons of Liberty dumped 90,000 pounds of their tea into the Boston Harbor. King George III and Lord North were both outraged, and Patriots throughout the colonies rejoiced. This was a monumental moment in the unifying of the colonies, along with how Great Britain planned to take care of it. |
14 | Intolerable Acts | The Intolerable Acts were placed on the American colonies by King George III and Lord North in 1774. Lord North was outraged by the colonists' protest of the tea. To take more control over the colonies, Parliament passed a series of harsh laws that became known as the Intolerable Acts. The Intolerable Acts were targeted to punish Massachusetts. They closed the Boston Harbor to all shipping, placed the Massachusetts government under British rule, and allowed British soldiers accused of murder to be tried in Britain. The colonists slowly began to come together and form a plan to repeal these acts. |
15 | First Continental Congress | The First Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia in 1774, and it consisted of about 50 leaders from 12 colonies. From this meeting, the idea of disbanding from Great Britain and becoming independent was discussed by Patrick Henry. Only bolder Patriots agreed with him at the time. The delegates decided to send a respectful message to King George III, discussing their complaints and rights. They called for a new boycott of British goods until the acts were repealed. They decided to meet again the following May. |
16 | Militias | Smaller armies in the colonies that were supposedly ready to fight in a minute, earning some of them the name “minutemen.” |
17 | Lexington and Concord | The British decided to finally take a more bold approach against the colonies. In April 1775, a spy reported to General Gage that the colonists were storing a large supply of gunpowder and weapons in a Concord village. 700 of his troops marched to the village and were stopped abruptly by colonist soldiers. A small battle occurred, leaving 8 colonists dead and the British victorious as they continued to Concord. They searched for the weapons and gunpowder and were unable to find them. Furious, they lit the gun carriages on fire. Colonists marched over, standing their ground and firing. By the end of the battle, the colonists had won, making this a huge advancement towards their independence. |
18 | Second Continental Congress | The delegates came together at the Second Continental Congress after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. |
19 | George Washington Only for this period of time (French and Indian War to the Revolution) | George Washington had been involved in previous battles such as the tension in the Ohio River Valley and the French and Indian War. |
20 | Continental Army | The Continental Army was created by the Continental Congress by George Washington in preparation to fight Great Britain. |
21 | Olive Branch Petition | The Olive Branch petition was sent by the delegates of the Second Continental Congress. It was a peace offering to King George III, saying that they would like to disband on good terms. The delegates did not get a response. |
22 | Thomas Paine and Common Sense | Thomas Paine anonymously wrote Common Sense. It was a pamphlet discussing how it was common sense for the colonies to become independent. From 120,000 to 500,000 copies were sold. The pamphlet would be discussed in parlors or salons, and soon became a popular topic. |
23 | Colonist Perspectives on the American Revolution Patriots Loyalists Neutralists
| The Patriots believed that they should have independence, and were against the British. The French sided with the Patriots. The Loyalists were siding with the British, saying they are their supreme ruler and have provided for them. The Neutralists, such as many of the Native Americans, chose not to be involved in a battle that wasn’t theirs. |
24 | Thomas Jefferson For this period of time up to the Revolution | Thomas Jefferson was a very quiet delegate of the First and Second Continental Congress. He wasn’t often the most prominent in the Congress up until the DOI. He was a very good writer, making him the elected candidate by the delegates to write the declaration. |
25 | Declaration of Independence Purpose, different parts, significance! | The Declaration of Independence (DOI) was a document mainly written by Thomas Jefferson that discussed the colonies new government, rules, and opinions as a new country. It was intended to announce them as a new country to King George III, colonists, and the world. It was rewritten and edited 86 times before being signed by the delegates. By signing the DOI, it meant that the delegates were committing treason against Great Britain, and could be killed for their actions. |
26 | Treaty of Paris (1783) | It took over a year after the Battle of Yorktown for the Treaty of Paris (1783) to be signed. This ended the American Revolution and declared independence for the U.S.. |
27 | Battle of Bunker Hill | The British controlled Boston in 1775, due to its popular trading port. They wanted to seize Bunker Hill and Breed Hill, as they would be helpful defensive assets. Colonists heard this, and attacked the British on Breed Hill. They won the first two attacks, but were defeated by the British the third time. The battle is named after Bunker hill because the British mixed up what hill they were on during the battle. |
28 | Battle of Trenton | In December 1776, Washington led his troops through the harsh winter weather and across the Delaware River to fight the British and Germans, who had allied together. They won, making this battle a pivotal moment that displayed their perseverance. |
29 | Battle of Saratoga | The first battle was at Freeman’s Farm. The British suffered more casualties but won due to their strong German allies. The second battle occurred at Bemis Heights. The colonists won this battle due to their strong French allies. |
30 | Valley Forge | George Washington's soldiers fought the harsh weather in the winter camp. They lived in crowded huts and lacked various materials. The American Congress felt sympathy towards them, but were unable to provide them with resources. 5 congressmen later came back and helped them. A Prussian mercenary trained and conditioned the soldiers so they could defeat the British. |
31 | War in the South and West | In the west, Native Americans sided with the British against the colonies because they wanted their land. The colonies had ignored the Proclamation and impeded on their land. In the south, the British were attacked on January 17th and lost due to their lack of energy and fuel. |
32 | Battle of Yorktown | The colonists and French attacked the British, with the colonists surrounding them on land and the French blocking them off on water. Many British soldiers died of disease, and they soon surrendered in October. This was the final battle in the American Revolution. |
33 | How the Americans won the Revolutionary War | Allies with French and Spanish, gaining more resources and support
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Republic | The idea that the people vote to elect their president. The U.S. government is a republic. |
Articles of Confederation (What was it? Weaknesses? Powers of Congress?) | The AOC could not impose taxes, could not draft soldiers for the federal army, had no national court system, and required a supermajority to vote on laws. |
Land Ordinance of 1785 | A law passed to end confusion over who got the land acquired from the Treaty of Paris (1783). The new Western land was divided into 36 townships. Part of each township was reserved for a public school |
Northwest Ordinance of 1787 | A law that specified how the western land would be governed. The Northwest territory was divided into smaller sections with each having a governor. They banned slavery and once a territory hits 60,000 people, they could apply to become a state. |
Shays’ Rebellion | Daniel Shay used to be a farmer and became a captain in the Continental Army. He led the rebellion that closed down courthouses and seized Continental Army weapons. The rebellion was not taken control of for six months, showing citizens how weak the AOC was. |
Constitutional Convention (Where? Why? Questions to be answered? Outcome?) | The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787. It consisted of two delegates from each of the states. They were meeting in order to establish a new federal government because the AOC has many weaknesses. |
Compromises of the Convention (List and provide details for all of them) | ⅗ Compromise At the time, the amount of representatives you had in Congress was based on your population. The Southern States wanted slaves to be counted in their population. The Northern states argued that the slaves weren’t being treated like people, so it was unfair to count them in their population. The ⅗ compromise made it so that every 5 slaves was counted as 3 people in their population. Compromise of 1790 There was a debate on where the state capital should be located |
George Washington (For this time period) | President of the Constitutional Convention |
James Madison (For this time period) | Father of the Constitution, wrote the federalist papers |
What influenced the framers when writing the Constitution? | Enlightenment Philosophers such as John Locke influenced the Constitution. They knew they did not want a monarch due to their bad experience with King George III. John Locke’s idea of all human rights to “life, liberty, and property” was altered to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” They wanted a separation of power and social contract from Montesquieu. |
The Constitution | The Constitution is the federal document of the U.S. that states the logistics of our country. |
Virginia Plan | Proposed by James Madision. It consisted of three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Congress had a House of Representatives and Senate. Favored bigger states because it gave them more representation. |
New Jersey Plan | Proposed by William Paterson. It consisted of three branches of government, just Congress. Each state had equal vote in Congress rather than it being based on population to give representation to smaller states. |
Legislative Branch (It’s purpose and powers) | The purpose of the legislative branch is to make all laws, regulate commerce with other nations, promote the progress of science and art, borrow money, and declare war. Congress is a bicameral system that has the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Reps represents areas while the Senate represents States. |
Executive Branch (It’s purpose and powers) | The Executive branch consists of the President and Vice President. You must be 35 years old, a 14 year resident of the U.S., a natural born citizen, and your term is 4 years. They are elected through the Electoral College. The President is the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, grants pardons, makes treaties, nominates Supreme Court Justices, and ensures laws are executed. |
Judicial Branch (It’s purpose and powers) | The Judicial Branch creates a Supreme Court that handles cases dealing with the Constitution and federal law. Congress handles inferior cases. Justices’ are nominated by the Senate. They interpret the Constitution and review the decisions of lower courts. |
Electoral College (What is it? Why was it created? How does it work?) | The Electoral College was created because the founding fathers believed that citizens of the U.S. wouldn't know enough about the candidate they were voting for. It starts by the citizens voting in each state. Whichever candidate wins the popular vote in a state then gets the electoral votes from that state. The amount of electoral votes in a state is based on that state's population. For example, Texas has 40 electoral votes. A candidate can win the popular vote but not win because they had less electoral votes. There are a total of 538 electoral votes, meaning you need at least 270 to win. |
Federalists | Supported the Constitution because they thought a strong national government was needed to keep the U.S. in order. |
Anti-Federalists | Against the Constitution because they thought it would threaten their individual rights. |
Ratify | To make valid or effective |
How is the Constitution amended? | There are 27 amendments to the Constitution. The first 10 are the Bill of Rights. An amAn amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one. |
Preamble to the Constitution (Purpose and the 6 intentions of the framers) | It is the mission statement of the Constitution. It has six intentions. Form a more perfect union - they want the states to have a good connection and the states and government to work together Establish Justice - they needed courts and a justice system Domestic tranquility - peace within the U.S. Provide for the common defense - the federal government is responsible for protecting the states from foreign conflict with the help of the states Promote the general welfare - allow U.S. citizens to prosper in life through a stable economy and environment Secure the Blessings of Liberty - everyone has natural rights
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Principles of the Constitution (know the meaning of each principle) | Republicanism - the idea that people vote to elect government officials Federalism - the states have a good relationship and connection with each other and the federal government. Popular Sovereignty - the government's rules come from the people, people have a say in the government. Checks and Balances - the branches make sure that the power is balanced out between them and that one branch doesn’t have too much power Separation of Power - prevent someone from having too much power Limited Government - the government only has power from the Constitution, and no one is above the law. Individual Rights - all people have natural rights and freedom
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Bill of Rights (Purpose and what they are) | The first 10 amendments of the Constitution are the Bill of Rights. They were created as a compromise between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists to ratify the Constitution. Protects basic freedom. It allows people to express their opinions through speech and press. It also allows peaceful protest. It prevents favoritism of any religion. Grants the right to keep and bear arms. This means citizens can own weapons to protect themselves. It was created for the sole purpose of being able to form a Militia to protect your state, but now people see it as an opportunity to own a gun American citizens will never have to house soldiers. Protects Americans from unreasonable searches from police. This means the police need a warrant to search you and a good reason. Anyone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. A person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. The government cannot take anyone's property without paying them. It protects people from being forced to testify against themselves. Outlines requirements for a fair trial. Citizens have the rights to a speedy trial and a jury that will not let personal needs conflict with the trial. Each defendant has the right to a lawyer. The outcome of a civil trial can be decided by a jury trial. Protects people from having to pay super expensive bail in order to be released from jail until your trial. It determines whether you wait for your trial in jail or outside of jail. You have other rights outside of the ones listed in the Constitution. Federal government only has the powers listed in the Constitution. No one is above the law. If it is not listed, it is decided by the states and people.
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